I originally posted this blog April 28, 2010. After a transition in my website hosting, it was lost. I was very upset as I had poured so much of my raw emotion into it. Fortunately, my boyfriends mother likes printing off copies of my blog so low and behold, she had a copy of this one! It's taken me several weeks to re-type it as I'm still moving through some intense levels of grief surrounding my fathers passing. But today was the day, so here it is:

My father passed away April 5^th of stomach cancer that had metastasized and spread throughout his vital organs. He was only 69 years old; if we had to place our bets on whom the first one in our family to die would be, none of us would have bet on Dad. He always seemed to be the model of health; he was the most active and athletic, never over-ate, and outwardly seemed to care for himself better than the rest of us. He’d had some health issues with his kidneys in the past so we knew that he had some things that needed attending to, but we were all floored when we finally found out 6 months ago that he had full-blown cancer.

He fought the good fight and did his best; he was walking 2 miles a day up to 2 weeks before he passed! Dad wasn’t ready to go and it’s hard to believe that he’s gone; it doesn’t feel real. All I feel is numb. Empty. It doesn’t seem right to be in a world that doesn’t have him in it. I feel so… lost.

A lot of people think that because I’m a spiritual medium, I’m exempt from these feelings because I can still see him, speak with him, and connect to him, right? Let me set the record straight and clearly say that I am not exempt from grief when a loved one passes. I am experiencing the loss of my father in a very real way. It hurts. It’s painful. And I feel like I can’t breathe.

I am lucky in that I was given 6 months to say goodbye; my father and I have no unfinished business and no loose ends. We both knew how much we meant to each other and there were no questions regarding our bond or shared love and respect for each other. And yes, I have seen him since he passed. I saw him at his funeral and I saw him standing in the kitchen just the other night. He has given me signs and let me know without a doubt that his presence remains near to us. I knew in January that he was going to pass away in April and I was also shown in dreams what he would look like on the other side (young, strong, vibrant, healthy) weeks before he left. Two nights before he died, I saw angels come into the room and watched as they washed and anointed him in a bath of Light to prepare him for Transition. I knew he was leaving. I had time to say goodbye and I know some things (not everything) about where he’s at now.

Don’t get me wrong, all of these things have been very comforting and I feel so blessed to have the ability to perceive the other side but none of these things replace the fact that I can no longer hug my Daddy. I don’t hear his voice filling the house as it used to. I’ll never again hear the garage door opening and know that he’s home from golf or his workout at the YMCA. Regardless of how you experience your loved one after they’ve crossed over, there is never a substitute for their physical presence. It makes no difference whether or not you can recognize their spiritual presence because it’s just not the same.

But love does go on. The love we shared and have for each other has not been diminished in the least by his death. His lessons, legacy, and love live on in my heart. Our love, lessons, and legacies are the best parts of us. To die means to impart those things completely while letting go of any earthly thing, including our bodies, that blotted those essential parts out. The best of my father remains and I know he is in a good place. Yes it hurts but the hurt isn’t all there is. The love and lessons balance the pain and I move forward confidently knowing that my Dad is still my guiding light.

I wrote a eulogy for him that I read at his funeral. Dad was involved in the Toastmasters (a public speaking club-of-sorts) for years and always looked forward to the day I would also become a public speaker. His funeral service was my introduction to this aspect of my future career and I must say, I elocuted it beautifully (thanks, Dad). He was very proud and the following is the eulogy I wrote and read:  

Good Evening, thank you for being here to celebrate and honor the life of my father, Mike Moynihan.

I sat down to write this eulogy and surprisingly, drew a blank. It’s my opinion that there aren’t enough good words to say about my father that would do him justice. But how could I communicate these things without creating a congregation full of bores, snores and fanny sores.

So I mentally asked him, “Where do I start, Dad? How do I let others know how much you meant? You did so much good; you worked so hard to provide those you loved with a comfortable place to thrive and you offered your time to help build places where others could survive. You gave freely of yourself in service to God, Country, Family, and your Fellow Man. You lived well, loved hard, and worked honestly. You were more than a little stubborn at times but made no apologies for who you are and you stood up for your beliefs. And while you may not have been known for your patience (I can hear those fingers snapping now), your honesty, integrity, humor, compassion, loyalty, and deep capacity to love put you in a league of your own. You set a fine example of how to be a good human, Dad. How can I truly get this across to these fine people so that they really know these things about you?”

“Keep it simple,” his voice returned.

Dad was a man who most savored vanilla ice cream and unbuttered popcorn; simplicity was the name of his game.  But don’t let that fool you; Mike Moynihan was simple but in a very profound way. Dad was an honest, compassionate, and hard-working man. He was spiritual, faithful, and dutiful yet incredibly playful and vibrant. He was also educated, intelligent, and well-read but never egotistical or lofty about it; on the contrary, my father was very unassuming and went out of his way to make others feel valued no matter their station in life. He loved his family, his golf, his cat, and his books. He liked to keep up on current events and watched Book TV every weekend to hear what others had to say.

Diligent, tenacious, and persevering, Mike Moynihan knew how to go the distance. Aside from being an avid golfer, he was a tremendous competitive athlete and played in racquetball tournaments for many years. You could also find him working out at the YMCA several evenings a week. He was very disciplined: physically, mentally, and spiritually, which is something I find admirable. He also had great passion that occasionally made him a little hot-headed! But that was just another part of who he was and to truly know my Dad was to love and respect all parts of him.     

His wit and vigor were only surpassed by his stellar sense of humor. He loved to make people laugh; ask any of his children or grandchildren and they’ll regale you with stories of his funny pirate faces or tell you about how he seized every opportunity to hide behind a corner and wait for the unsuspecting passerby. He would then reach out and grab your arm while growling, grunting or groaning like a monster from the movies, which he also enjoyed with equal enthusiasm.

If you met Mike for the first time, he would look you in the eye, firmly shake your hand, and introduce himself by his first and last name, “Mike Moynihan.” and then ask, “How are you?” He didn’t do this just to be polite; he wanted everyone he met to feel acknowledged and respected for who they were. He wanted you to know that you were seen and heard by him. He was just that kind of guy. 

I don’t like talking about my father in the past tense because I feel his love, lessons, and legacy all around in a very present, living way. The relevance of how Mike conducted himself throughout his Life is timeless. He believed in me at times when it felt the rest of the world didn’t and he always made sure that I knew he was proud of me. I will NEVER let that go.

If I could sum up Dad’s message to those still working their way through the business of Life, I would surmise it this way:

“Honor others while respecting yourself. Challenge yourself & aspire to your personal best in every undertaking. Study yourself & take the time to learn about others. Remember that your health is your first million and there are some things money can’t buy. Have faith, have heart, and be courageous. Hug the ones you love a little tighter. Be consistent, have an adventure everyday and above all else, keep it simple.”     

 

I have done relatively little-to-none updating on my website and social networking sites lately and I'd like to explain. I am currently living between Arizona and North Carolina as my father was diagnosed last September with advanced stomach cancer that had already moved into his bones by the time the doctors caught it. I decided to take what has become a series of extended stays in NC in order to help my parents through this difficult time. I'm spending anywhere from 2-6 weeks at a time in NC and then going back to AZ for 1-3 weeks to take care of my life there. Dad was told on New Years Eve that his cancer has become too aggressive for the chemo treatments and that now it's all about keeping him comfortable and calling in hospice when the time comes. I am very close with my parents and as I'm sure you can imagine, I'm devastated. The fact that I'm a medium and can communicate with Spirit helps a great deal but in no way diminishes the pain, sadness, and feelings of emptiness that this situation brings. Mediums are humans first; we are not spared experiencing the range of emotions (including the fear-based ones) that everyone else experiences. Some people have asked if I have foreseen my fathers day or time of passing or other details pertaining to his health and the short answer is, no, I have not (and frankly, wouldn't want to). One of the key elements to seeing things for others with second Sight is objectivity. I have to be completely detached from the person I'm reading and as soon as I throw my personal agendas or desires for their outcome into the mix, the reading becomes muddled and less clear. And of course there is always free will at work with each individual so futures can always change anyway. Being detached doesn't mean that I don't care; I care very much for each client I read and pray that the information coming through has abundant benefit for them but I'm unattached to their outcome. I know that everyone is responsible only for their own choices and I have no control; I'm simply a messenger. Having this kind of objectivity with loved ones may not be impossible but I certainly don't have it. I can't help but have an agenda for their growth and healing even though I know in my heart that I can only support their journey, not direct it. Therefore, I don't "see" things for family, friends, and loved ones. Another thing I've been asked is, "How can you do readings for others when you're in such an emotionally difficult space in your life?" The answer is that I can do so very well because helping others is a welcome distraction from feeling powerless in this situation with my father. It helps to know that there is something I can do to help someone; plus, I know my Dad would be more upset to know that his illness was keeping me from my important work (he is very dutiful!). I was designed to care for others, so conducting readings is generally not a problem when I'm under emotional stress. In fact, readings are a welcome reprieve as I get to leave my stuff at the door before going into a reading! If my emotional state becomes an issue, I recognize it and reschedule my appointments. I know that one can only care for others when they are at their own best so I've become quite adept at making sure my own needs are taken care of. As of right now, my Dad is doing well! Once the doctors told him that their medicines had reached the limit of what they could do, he decided to take the advice of his wacky holistic-minded daughter and start a regime of taking herbal medicines. I'm happy to report that within two weeks of starting the herbs, his jaundice went away and he is now walking 2 miles a day and planning his next golf outing when the weather clears up. I don't know for sure if he will release the cancer completely but I am so grateful that he has been able to get some of his quality of life back! I have received many prayers and much support from friends, family, and clients in this difficult time; thank you so much, everyone! Your continued prayers and support are a continued blessing; I treasure each of you

In Light,
Jaena

I just figured out a way to blog from my phone; am I total nerd for getting such a thrill out of this? The answer is "yes" and I'm ok with that. Aside from my nerdy itch getting scratched, I really wanted to be able to blog from my phone because I get so much inspiration from everyday things. I like to write and take notes when I feel said inspiration but I usually don't get around to posting a lot of these thoughts in blog format as I always seem to get caught up in other things and end up forgetting. Here is a recent example: I was in Q'doba (a Mecca for big honkin' burrito-lovers like myself) the other day having lunch alone and people watching, as I like to do, when this sudden moment of feeling connected to everyone and everything hit me all at once. I mean, I was feeling One with the table, the lady sitting across from me, and even the burrito (hmmm, does that mean I was consuming myself? I'm going to leave that one alone for now). I don't know what sparked that feeling but there it was and it inspired me. So I pulled out my phone and took the following note: "Think of your world as an extension of you. Every single thing your eyes rest upon is a part of who you are. What does each person, place, thing say about you? Say to yourself, "This table (coffee cup, salad, lady in cashmere, etc.) is ME. What can I learn about ME from this _______?" Don't be afraid to look at the ugly stuff too for there is darkness in each of us that brings contrast to the light. Every little bit contributes to your greater understanding of yourself, your world, and your connection to All That Is." Spirit once told me that I would really know I was getting somewhere in my spiritual growth when I could hold a riveting conversation with a table lamp. I actually heard this meditation and just laughed myself silly when I did. But I get it... It's all about dissolving the grandest illusion of them all; that we are separate from anyone or anything, including and especially, God. And its also about cultivating the ability to see God in every little thing, which I think is paramount for spiritual well-being. So, if you see me on the street, feel free to ask if I've had any deep discussions with tables, lamps, or chairs but don't freak out when I tell you about some of the stuff they've seen! Anyway, It would have been much cooler for me if I could have directly blogged this. Nerd? Yes. Made happy by little things? Definitely. Glad I know how to entertain myself? You bet. Keep checking back for more on-the-fly insights... -mobile post from Jaena's iPhone

Please check out my dedicated blog on my spiritual journey to Australia, September 2009.

What a great morning! It started out fairly normal; sh*t, shower, and shave... you know, the usual. (Was that T.M.I.? oh, well!) Anyway, I have an app on my iPhone called "Quitter" and it tracks the days I've been smoke-free and the amount of money I've saved so far. I checked it this morning after my aforementioned routine and it told me that it's been 1 month and 1 day since my last cigarette and that I've saved nearly $200! First, the fact that I spent nearly $200 a month on cigarettes was kind of shocking and re-affirmed my decision to stay smoke-free. Second, I figured one month and one day was kind of a mile marker and should be celebrated in some way.

Now, I had been praying for help to stop smoking when it was the right time for my highest and best good. I had no idea when that time would be but I had faith that I would know it. I also affirmed that when it was time, I would stop cold-turkey (I think that's really the only way for me) and be perfectly capable of handling all cravings. I never tried to delude myself that I wouldn't have cravings, simply that I would be able to handle them. Well it hit me on a recent trip to my hometown in NC that this was the place I first started smoking and this was the place I wanted to stop. So on my last day there, I threw my smokes away and haven't had one since. (So far, so good, Spirit... thanks!).

As I've said already, I just hit the 1 month 1 day mark and something about the two 1's struck me this morning. I'm really into numerology and know that the number 11 (which is two 1's... duh) is a number of spiritual ascension and elevation. Add the two 1's together and you get the number 2, which is all about relationships, cooperation, and BALANCE (huge word for my life). You know me, I took it as a sign from Spirit of course! When I recognize signs from Spirit I always like to take a moment to stop and ask for any clarification I need regarding the sign to come into my mind or be made more clear in some way. I closed my eyes and said, "OK Spirit, I know this is marking a significant step in my life right now so please show me anything else I need to see." I took a deep breath and saw (to my delight) a pair of diamond studs in the secondary earring holes of my ears (2 spots which have been vacant for a LONG time). Then I sort of heard/saw/felt that if I went to Sam's Club I would find just what I needed for less than $200 (the amount I've saved from not smoking). Yes, I thought it was a little funny too; diamond earrings at Sam's Club for the amount I've saved by being good to myself? Well, Spirit has sent me on stranger errands to be sure so I just went with it.

I got in my car and drove to the Sam's Club that's on the way to my office, walked in, and sure enough, there sat the cutest little pair of diamond studs for less than $200 in white gold settings (Spirit must know I'm not a yellow gold kind of girl)!! And that was the happiest two hundred bucks I'd spent on myself in a good long while! Once again, Spirit had let me know that I was not alone and am being 100% supported by the Universe. I popped those babies in my ears as soon as I got out to the car and while admiring them in the rear view mirror, I was struck by the synonymy of diamonds and marriages. "Diamonds are given when a commitment is made! And they are forever!", I thought. I held my new earrings between my thumb and forefingers, closed my eyes, and said, "Jaena, I promise to love, honor, and cherish you always. I vow to always take care of you and keep you safe from harm, especially harm from yourself. I will no longer hurt you and will always treat you the way you deserve to be treated from here on out."

You could just about hear the Canon in D Major playing in the background. Yes I got a little weepy and if I'd have had a bouquet, I would have thrown it to someone in the parking lot as I drove away. Now I've got something I can wear all the time, goes with everything, AND serves as a constant reminder of how much I'm loved and supported both by Spirit and Self. SO, remember to always pay attention to those funny little inclinations of your mind, trust that the Universe is using those to communicate with and show support for you, and always treat yourself when you've done well (diamonds work very nicely!).

It never ceases to amaze me how I can find insight in the simplest of things. Recently, I decided that I needed to get a new cell phone case. I found the one I was looking for online and went to a few different stores to get it. None of the stores carried the color I wanted. For some reason, I got REALLY upset about that. It came down to purchasing a red case and I just wasn't happy about it. I didn't want red! I wanted purple! I found myself saying, "I hate red! I don't want red!" If colors had feelings, red's would have been hurt. I've never had a negative reaction to the color red before so why was I having that type reaction now? I was totally baffled at myself; it's a damn cell phone case, who cares? It turned out that my boyfriend bought me the red case (because he gave me a turquoise one and decided he wanted it back so of course I gave him hell for it; I was joking but I suppose he felt guilty) and then he ordered the purple one for me (should be here this week).

 SO... after I got the red case on and got over my resentment of it, I realized that I was just being plain silly. When mountains get made out of mole-hills, I always like to ask Spirit if there is a deeper meaning behind it. It came to mind that red is the color of the root chakra which pertains to issues around health, security, material matters, and grounding. Purple is the color of the crown chakra which is all about wisdom, spirituality, intuition, and calming. Spirit told me that because I was currently working through some body issues as well as addiction and other personal security matters requiring attention, that I needed the color red on something I would have with me all the time. When the purple case arrives, it marks my evolution and healing from certain physical matters that I've felt plagued by my entire life (body issues, addictions, feeling strange/outcast, etc.). So I received this wonderful message that I'm well on my path to a deeper level of healing and being the highest expression of who I can be. Honestly, I don't feel as though I've been at my highest expression, but then again I'm kind of hard on myself at times. I am very spiritual (obviously... look what I do for a living) and health-conscious as far as the types of food I will eat (I'm a vegan for those who don't know, so no animal products or by-products whatsoever). And yet I'm overweight and I cuss, drink, and smoke. How crazy is that? Well, I don't plan on giving up cussing and probably not drinking (seeing as I don't over-do that one anyway) but I am ready to shift into a body-type that I'm more comfortable with and I'm totally aboard the "It's time to stop smoking" train. It's true that I can be rather self-critical but don't worry folks; I may be self-critical but I have no problem acknowledging where I'm strong and awesome as well

The whole red-purple issue told me that I wasn't comfortable focusing on myself (true... hence choosing a profession where I focus on other peoples issues) and that I was resisting self-care because there is still a part of me (after all these years of self-improvement work) that feels unworthy on some level. I was mad about having to focus more on those things (even though it's totally essential if you want to feel balanced) and wanted to have my purple comfort-zone of spirituality and etheric eccentricity. Well that doesn't work because we live in a physical world and Spirit has always told me that one of the keys to discovering Spirit is to find the magical within the mundane (such as a cell phone case!). Well I've been doing great with focusing on self-care vs. self-control and I've already lost over 15 pounds (the weight though is just a symptom of stuffed feelings). I feel so much more connected to myself than I have in a long time; I got lost in my work for others and dropped myself off the list. I'm proud to say that I'm back on my list and sitting pretty at the tippy-top of it

 Who knew? All of that from a cell phone case! It's so good to acknowledge the little ways Spirit lets us know where we are at and it's important to take a step back from time to time and get a good, honest look at where you stand with you. I'm grateful to have the ability to appreciate the negative as well as the positive and that little things like this still make me feel all humble and baby-like. What little things has Spirit given you big messages through lately?  

 

     We now have the pandemic of the ‘swine flu’ posted on all the news stations. I don’t think that it’s the only pandemic we are experiencing as a collective right now. I think many of us are suffering more so from what I’ve come to know as the ‘spiritual flu’. The spiritual flu erodes our sense of connection that we so need in order to feel and understand our part of All That Is. Life is a series of seemingly random and crazy events that coalesce into our experiences and outlooks. Many of those random events bring about wonderful and loving circumstances that sustain us and make us feel grateful. There are also many events that leave us feeling downcast and defeated. It’s in those times that we need to feel connected to our Source as well as each other more than ever.
     We need this connection to know that Life really isn’t a random series of events but a rich tapestry of interconnecting threads. Each thread of experience is woven with specific intent and co-created into a beautiful order (from seeming chaos) that imbues us with the knowledge that we are an integral part of the grand design. If you stand close to a tapestry and examine one small section, it seems to be a jumble of different colored threads that make no sense and seem to have no pattern. When you step away to take in the entire work, you then see the beautiful scene born of all those jumbled threads. The ability to step back and observe the greater work is of paramount importance if the piece is ever going to hold any significance to you.
     The world is in a very chaotic state right now; economies are flailing and lives spent building and creating security are being stripped down to the bones. We have wars, plagues, and horrific crimes going unpunished.
It’s chaos.
It’s madness.
It’s sick.
     It seems that our tapestries are being unraveled one thread at a time. Spirit has often told me of a time in each person’s life known as “The Great Undoing”. This is a time when everything you think you know seems to come undone. It’s a time when lives built upon false or outdated beliefs and programs come undone. It’s an opportunity to embrace truth and create a new foundation to build from. If everything seems to be unraveling around you, then you may be experiencing the Great Undoing. Know that it’s a spiritual cleansing and is enabling you to get rid of everything that isn’t serving your highest and best path. Sometimes we get a little too focused on that one small section of the tapestry and we forget to take in the big picture; the Great Undoing helps us regain our perspective by forcing us to look at what we can control vs. what we cannot.
     What’s the cure for the spiritual flu? I believe it’s all about doing things that help you feel spiritually connected. Meditation and prayer are wonderful tools but certainly not the only ones to help you feel connected to Spirit. Spirit is an emotionally based energy so anything that produces feelings of love and joy will connect you with spiritual energy: watch a funny movie, play with your child (and really get into it!), listen to songs that make you feel alive, and write/journal (if you enjoy that) are all things that can help you reconnect.
I’ll be honest; I’m not over my bout of spiritual flu yet. I feel blessed that I have a job that makes it so that I have to connect spiritually everyday, if not for myself then others.
     Although I have a job where I’m immersed in Spirit everyday, it’s still easy to forget myself at times. I’m getting back to journaling and writing (part of my flu was losing all inspiration to write; not good for me). I also know that sometimes you have to understand your darker parts in order to embrace your Light. I’ve half-joked around lately saying that I feel somewhere in between enlightened and endarkened. Spirit has told that it’s vital to go to that in-between space sometimes in order to find balance. We can’t deny that there is hardship in the world and that we are all affected by it on some level. All we really can do is strive to find our balance and hope it sets an example for others to find their own form of balance. I’ve learned that judging rather than honoring the place you’re in is counter-productive.
     We are in the final 3 years leading up to the 2012 shift. The 2012 shift isn’t the end of the world as we’ve been told; it’s merely a shift in mass consciousness. A lot of people won’t notice any difference after 2012 but those who are trying to connect spiritually may feel a great difference in the overall energy. In these remaining 3 years all of us will be challenged in our own ways. Everything we think we know will come under examination and it should. We need to question our beliefs and judgments. We need to question what we’ve been told. We need to question everything for questions lead to answers and there is no one “right” answer; only the truth as we see it. If anyone relates to this, you’re not alone. Let’s ride this wave together and take comfort in the journeys we share. Let’s step back from the chaos and search the bigger picture for the beautiful scene it all adds up to. Let’s observe our feelings and experiences from an objective place of loving detachment. I look forward to cresting the hill, but I also know the climb up makes it all the more worth it. Sending everyone love and light on their journey…
Jaena
    

I just arrived in California and am visiting some friends before I go home to host family for the next month. I desperately needed to take a little "me time" before everyone gets to AZ. 

I haven't written much lately and I've been getting emails asking for my newsletters and insights. So I want to apologize first to everyone who reads my writing and looks forward to new material. I've been so busy caught up in life's merry-go-round that I have forgot some important self-care time. Writing is self-care for me; it's like oxygen sometimes. Lately I've been suffocating without the inspiration to write and channel my thoughts/feelings. I'll be honest; I've been stuck in a rut lately. Knowing what I need to do and finding it hard to do it all; sound familiar to anyone?  

The energy on the planet is shifting right now. We are in some crazy times and everyone is feeling the effects, myself included. How does one go about keeping up with everything when the world is floundering around them? I'll admit it's been difficult to get centered and stay centered. I have moments when I feel so at peace and at One with everything only to quickly be plunged back into the insanity of life. And that's what it feels like right now... insanity! My own thoughts have been going from tranquil to chaotic in the blink of an eye. And I feel guilty about it! I feel like because of who I am and what I do, I'm expected to be the calm voice of reason for everyone going through tough times as well. I feel guilty for being so... so... human. Isn't that ridiculous?! It's ridiculous that we so easily allow others to be human but berate ourselves relentlessly for a weak moment?

My lesson right now in life is all about self-forgiveness. When I think of all the ways that I abuse myself through over-extending, over-stressing, overeating, over-thinking, over-criticizing myself, etc. I feel very sad. I would never do that to someone else! Much less someone I loved and cherished. So why do I do it to myself? The truth is that I haven't figured it out yet. It's easy to see it for others but when it's my issue, I draw a blank.

So my message from Spirit is: "Don't worry about figuring it all out right now. It's not about knowing it in your head; it's about understanding it in your heart. The place to start is with forgiveness (letting go of the attachment to it) and allowance. Give yourself permission to feel a little crazy and even act a little crazy if you need to! Get it out; let it go. Doing so will make room for the Divine Spirit to infuse more of It's Light within you. From chaos the order will come. Trust that your process, no matter how insane it may seem to you at the time, will ultimately result in a deep healing that you can share with others."

Ok Spirit, I hear ya! Can I get a collective exhale from everyone reading this? We all have a responsibility to allow ourselves to feel a little off-kilter (without judging it!) so that we can find balance and more ardently embrace the ultimate gift of Spirit; Grace.  

I had a wonderful ThanksLiving this year. We didn't have a ton of friends or family over; it was just Keevin and I. You would have thought that we were feeding Pharoh's Army though! We like to call it ThanksLiving because we are both vegans who don't consume any animal products including dairy or eggs so all of our food is compassionate and cruelty-free. You may wonder what kind of enjoyable meal we could possibly have without those things but I assure you we never sacrifice flavor or satisfaction! Here is our menu:

Tofurky with "Giblet" Gravy and Dumplings
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with savory herbs
Candied Yams
Green Bean Casserole (what? without cream of mushroom soup? Yes!)
Apple-Nut Dressing
Cranberry Sauce (of course)
Raw Pumpkin Pie (made with butternut squash vs. pumpkin... so good)
Raw German Chocolate Pecan Pie

It's easy to make traditional-type holiday food when you use soy, rice, or nut milk in place of dairy milk. There's a great butter substitute on the market call Earth Balance Buttery Sticks (awesome for baking) and instead of eggs we just used either tofu (absorbs the flavor of whatever it's cooked with) or ground flax seeds mixed with a little water (becomes very gelatinous). Preparing vegan foods is all about learning substitutions for animal ingredients and these substitutions very closely mimick the properties of their animal-based counterparts. Give it a try sometime... I would love it if you would send me your favorite recipes and allow me to offer the vegan variations. I love a challenge! I hope everyone had a great holiday, vegan or not, and I wish you all continued prosperity and love in your lives. 

Don't forget; I'm offering 15% off all readings conducted during the holidays. You can use the coupon code: HAPPYHOLIDAYS to get your discount today!

Dine with Love,
Jaena

Do you remember the story of Chicken Little? A wolf threw a piece of wood with a star painted on it at Chicken Little's head and whispered through a fence that "the sky was falling". Chicken Little believed this voice that corroborated the evidence he was holding in his hand (or wing, as it were) and immediately went to tell all of his chicken friends that the sky was falling. They saw him holding the star-painted wood and believed that it was true, all but one that is. Turkey Lurkey was a free-thinker and didn't always accept things at face value, choosing to find his own truth. He decided to turn to logic and looked up to see that the sky was still in tact. Meanwhile, the wolf was whispering from behind bushes in the panic of the chickens that the only place they would be safe was in a cave away from the farm. So, Chicken Little rounded everyone up and took them to the cave, with Turkey Lurkey running all the while through the crowd telling everyone that the sky was NOT falling and that this must be some sort of trick. A few believed him when he pointed up at the sky but for the most part, everyone just kept following the leader and wound up in Wolf's cave. When everyone was inside, Wolf blocked the door and had a feast. The moral of the story: Don't believe everything you hear.

So how does Chicken Little relate to the economy? The news and other media have told us that our economy is falling. Depression... recession... oppression... whatever. We see the evidence of it in our real estate markets with the value of properties plummeting. In my own business, clients have cancelled appointments with me due to the economy. They are unsure if they should spend the money they may need for something else on a reading, which I understand of course. But so many people are buying into the fear-based messages of lack that are being publicized like crazy right now. And when has that not been the case? There have always been fear-based messages as well as people chomping at the bit to buy into them. It's easy to believe what you see because seeing is believing, right? Right. But are you seeing what's there or just the illusion? I'm here to say that the same money that was out there when the economy was good is still out there now! There are still people making money and losing money. That's how it's always been and will continue to be.

Fear is the Wolf. The media is Chicken Little. And we have a choice. We can either be the hens who believe everything they are told and inevitably run to their demise, or we can be the Turkey Lurkeys of the world. We can run through the panic and tell others that we are fine and there is nothing to fear. If the hens will just look up and see that the sky isn't falling, then they can save themselves from certain death. In this metaphor, "certain death" is living in a perpetual state of lack rather than abundance.

I find 'lack' to be a very unnatural state to live in. I choose abundance! I choose to feel supported and taken care of by an abundant Universe whose supply is limitless. There are no limits in the Mind of God. We were created in the image of God (or however you may choose to think of God). That means we are also creators with limitless potential to create, grow, change, and evolve. We have the power to create the feasts and famines of our lives. But we must allow for each season to turn as it will. Sometimes there needs to be a famine or a fire to cleanse the land so it doesn't become too dense thus making it uninhabitable. If we allow the natural process of things to run its course then inevitably the sun will come back out and the land will flourish again. Actually, whether we are allowing of it or not isn't going to stop the natural flow. We can stress all we want or be at ease; it really doesn't matter! Things are going to ebb and flow as they will whether we freak out about it or not. So why not be at ease knowing that we will be taken care of? I trust this and it helps me breathe some days.

Sure, the economy is down. Despite this, I just bought a house (after having filed for bankruptcy just 4 years ago). Not only did I buy it, but walked into it with a lot of equity and a smoking interest rate! I can afford the payments and have even been able to do a few improvements on it so far. I have less business from clients than usual, yes. But I am still able to meet my financial needs and save money too. I choose to see the drop in business as an opportunity to focus on other very important projects that will be investments for my future such as writing my book, working towards a Ph.D, and making travel plans for my upcoming trip to Australia in May. And you know what? I am no different than anyone else. I put my pants on one leg at a time. I work to pay my bills. I make good choices and sometimes bad ones. It's true that I have an ability that many don't understand but everyone has abilities be they psychic or otherwise. Everyone can hone their gifts into something they can maximize and support themselves on. 

So, here is my advice: don't believe everything you hear. Turn off the news and don't listen to others when they are speaking from a place of lack and fear. Listen to your own voice. See beyond the illusions of lack to the reality of abundance and prosperity. Develop a new relationship with your money. Talk to it, thank it, ask it what it wants from you and tell it what you would like from it. Understand that money is an energy like any other. It can be used or abused. It can be lost or found. It can be created and destroyed. If it is personified as "the root of all evil" then so it will become for you. If it something you choose to love (and sometimes loving is letting go) then it will be a loving presence in your life. I know some of this may sound a little weird but it really works to think of it that way! So go forth and take your money to the movies, or out to dinner, and have a good time knowing that more of it will come and go in your life and it's all ok.